DJRCOA.jpg
DJRCOA.jpg

1677 King Charles II 17th Century Handwritten Indentured Servant Contract on Vellum

$3,000.00

Step back into 17th-century England with this extraordinary handwritten indenture, dated 1677 during the reign of King Charles II—over a century earlier than most examples typically seen from the late 1700s. Crafted on vellum in a bold chancery hand, this legal deed reflects the formal style and customs of the Restoration era. The document remains in exceptional, excellent condition with little to no wear—extremely rare for a piece of this age—and retains its original red wax seal still attached by vellum tag. Measuring approximately 26.5” wide × 27” high and housed in a museum-quality frame measuring 31.5” wide × 30.5” tall, this piece displays beautifully with ornate calligraphy at the heading (“This Indenture”). Authenticated by DJR Authentication, it offers collectors and historians a tangible connection to the era of Charles II and stands as a truly museum-worthy acquisition.

Step back into 17th-century England with this extraordinary handwritten indenture, dated 1677 during the reign of King Charles II—over a century earlier than most examples typically seen from the late 1700s. Crafted on vellum in a bold chancery hand, this legal deed reflects the formal style and customs of the Restoration era. The document remains in exceptional, excellent condition with little to no wear—extremely rare for a piece of this age—and retains its original red wax seal still attached by vellum tag. Measuring approximately 26.5” wide × 27” high and housed in a museum-quality frame measuring 31.5” wide × 30.5” tall, this piece displays beautifully with ornate calligraphy at the heading (“This Indenture”). Authenticated by DJR Authentication, it offers collectors and historians a tangible connection to the era of Charles II and stands as a truly museum-worthy acquisition.

What are indentured servants? Indentured servants were men and women who agreed to serve for a set period of time in the new America in exchange for transportation, subsistence, clothes, and housing. With the majority of them working in the tobacco fields, adults often served for four to seven years, while youngsters occasionally served for much longer. The headright system in 1618 lured planters and merchants to incur the cost with the promise of land, as opposed to the Virginia Company in London, which paid to ship servants over the Atlantic. The General Assembly created regulations that governed the terms of contracts as well as how servants should be treated, limiting their rights while still permitting them to file lawsuits if they had any grievances. By the end of the seventeenth century, Virginia had fewer new servants, and most of the colony's labor requirements were filled by African slaves.